Fenerbahçe presidential candidate Aziz Yildirim's main target for the centre-forward position before the congress is 24-year-old Igor Thiago, who holds both Brazilian and Bulgarian citizenship. Yildirim had previously stated that his associates were examining the player. Thiago's performance, which included 22 goals in 38 Premier League matches for Brentford, earned him a call-up to the Brazil squad for the World Cup; he has 2 caps and 1 goal for Brazil.
Brentford, who paid Club Brugge €33 million for him in the summer of 2024, is reportedly preparing for his departure. The English club will not negotiate with any teams before the World Cup, as it believes the tournament will significantly increase his market value and plans to sell him for a much higher price. The transfer is considered difficult due to interest from several other major European clubs, including Chelsea, Atletico Madrid, Newcastle, Juventus, and Milan. Thiago's contract with Brentford runs until 2031, and his current market value on Transfermarkt is €50.00m.
